Advertising-lantern.



PATENTED JULY 10, 1906.

F. KOENIG. ADVERTISING LA-NTERN. APPLIoATIoN FILED MAY4.1905

THE Nonms FsfsRs co., WASHINGTON. D. c

UNITED STATES ATENT OFFICE.

ADVERTISING-LANTERN.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented July 10, 1906.

Application filed Mayl, 1905. Serial No. 258,790.

' T0 all whom t may concern,.-

Be it known that I, FRITZ KOENIG, a citizen of the German Empire, residing at T- bingen, in the Kingdom of /Vrtemberg, Germany, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in or Relating to Advertising-Lanterns; and I do hereby declare the following to be a full, clear, and exact description of the invention, such as will enable others skilled in the art to which it appertains to make and use the same.

This invention relates to advertising-lanterns of that general type in which a picture or words are arranged on a transparent or partly-transparent display-panel which is progressively illuminated by a source of light within the lantern.

One of the principal objects of the present invention is to provide a lantern of this type in which a centrally-disposed lamp is arranged within a revoluble cylinder having translucent and opaque panels and to employ between the cylinder and the panel a number of substantially radial partitions between which the rays of light are successively directed in order to successively illuminate sections of the display-panel.

A further object of the invention is to provide an improved means controlled by the rotatable movement of the cylinder for igniting and extinguishing the lamp.

Vith these and other objects in view the invention consists in the construction and combination of elements hereinafter described, illustrated in the accompanying drawings, and particularly pointed out in the appended claims.

In the drawings, Figure 1 is a side elevation of an advertising-lamp constructed in accordance with the invention. Fig. 2 is a vertical section of the same. Fig. 3 is a horizontal sectional view of the lantern. Fig. 4 is a detail sectional view on an enlarged scale and illustrating more particularly the mechanism for controlling the lighting and extinguishing of the lamp.

In the lantern illustrated it is assumed that the word Oonditorei" is to be gradually rendered visible on both sides of the lantern by progressive illumination of the successive letters, after which the full word is illuminated. The lamp is then extinguishedthat is to say, the whole panel is placed in darkness-and after a brief period the letters are again progressively illuminated.

The transparent sides or display-panels l) are arranged on both sides of a lantern-casing a, and in the middle of the casing is placedy a lamp d, which is supplied with gas from a pipe e. Directly under the lamp is a cock c, on the stemf of which is secured a short lever g, that is provided at its free end With a roller i. Around the lamp is arranged an illuminating-cylinder p, which is mounted on a wheel m, having a grooved periphery around which passes a belt or chain s, receiving motion from a spring-motor c through the medium of gears 'u t. The wheel m is mounted on bearing-balls o on a bearing n, fixed in the bottom of the casing in order to reduce friction. The cylinder consists of a number of panels, which in the present instance are shown as opaque and transparent, there being two transparent panels and two opaque panels. The periphery of the cylinder is partly surrounded at two diametrically-opposed sides by two plates Q, which follow the contour of the cylinder for approximately ninety degrees, and the ends of these plates are then ent out and extend on approximately radial lines to the corners of the lantern-casing.

The space on both sides of the lantern between the plates g and the panels b is divided by a number of substantially radial vertical partitions r into a number of cells which correspond to the number of sections and stages of the picture which is to be illuminated, and as the cylinder p is revolved and its transparent panels gradually come into alinement with the cells the rays of light are allowed to pass from the central lamp out to the surface of the panel to be illuminated.

Secured to the hub of the wheel m is a disk lc, that is provided at diametrically opposite points with recesses l, into which the arm g is forced by a spring h, and between the recesses the roller i will travel on the surface of the disk.

The lamp is also provided with a pilotlight of a type commonly used in lamps of various types.

In operation the wheel m and cylinder p are rotated, and as the transparent panels of the cylinder move over the successive cells between the partitions r the rays of light from the lamp will be allowed to pass through said cells to illuminate that portion or portions of the transparent panels at the ends of the cells. The panels are thus progressively IOO illuminated, and as soon as the whole surface of each panel has been illuminated a recess l of the disk 7c passes under the roller 0l of the lever g, and the latter is turned down by means of the spring h for the purpose of turning the gas-cock and extinguishing the lamp, while the light of the pilot-flame continues to burn. Vhen the course of the recess Zin the disk is completed, the lamp g is again turned by the disk 7c, and the cock c is opened and the lamp ignited by the pilot-flame, while simultaneously the transparent panels of the cylinder have again reached the irst of the series of partitions and the progressive illumination commences afresh.

Having thus described the invention, what I claim isl. In an advertising-lantern, a casing having a display-panel, a centrally disposed damp, a cylinder surrounding the same and having translucent and opaque panels, means for rotating said cylinder, and substantially radial opaque partitions extending from the cylinder to the display-panel.

2. In an advertising-lantern, a casing having a display-panel, a centrally-disposed lamp Within the casing, a cylinder surrounding the lamp, and having translucent and opaque panels, means for rotating said cylinder, substantially radial partitions extending from the cylinder to `the display-panel, and means controlled by the rotative movement of said cylinder for igniting and extinguishing the lamp.

3. In an advertising-lantern, a casing having a display-panel, a gas-lamp within the casing, a valved gas-pipe leading thereto, a cylinder surrounding the lamp, means for rotating the cylinder, partitions extending from the cylinder to the panel, and a recessed disk rotating with said cylinder and controlling the gas-valve. v

4. In an advertising-lantern, a casing having a display-panel, a central lamp, a cylinder surrounding the lamp and provided with translucent and opaque panels, curved plates of opaque material partially surrounding the cylinder, partitions arranged in the space between said plates and leading from the cylinder to the display-panel, and means for rotating said cylinder.

5. In an advertising-lantern, a casing having a display-panel, `a lamp, means for directing the light from the lamp gradually to successive portions of the panel7 and means Jfor temporarily extinguishing the lamp after the full illumination of the panel.

In testimony whereof I hereunto affix my signature in the presence of two witnesses.

FRITZ KOENIG. 

